Updated 6:04 pm, Thursday, October 12, 2017

FILE – In this Feb. 12, 2000, file photo, cartoonist Charles Schulz displays a sketch of his beloved character “Snoopy” in his office in Santa Rosa, Calif. The home of “Peanuts” creator Schulz burned to the ground in the deadly California wildfires but his widow escaped, her stepson said Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. Jean Schulz, 78, evacuated before flames engulfed her hillside home Monday and is staying with a daughter, Monte Schulz said. less

FILE – In this Feb. 12, 2000, file photo, cartoonist Charles Schulz displays a sketch of his beloved character “Snoopy” in his office in Santa Rosa, Calif. The home of “Peanuts” creator Schulz burned to the … more

Photo: BenMargot, AP

FILE – In this Oct. 1, 2010, file photo, “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz’ widow, Jean Schulz, stands with the character “Snoopy” during the installation of a portrait of Schulz by photographer Yousuf Karsh, at the National Portrait Gallery, in Washington, D.C. The home of Charles Schulz burned to the ground in the deadly California wildfires but his widow escaped, her stepson said Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. Jean Schulz, 78, evacuated before flames engulfed her hillside home Monday and is staying with a daughter, Monte Schulz said. less

FILE – In this Oct. 1, 2010, file photo, “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz’ widow, Jean Schulz, stands with the character “Snoopy” during the installation of a portrait of Schulz by photographer Yousuf Karsh, … more

Photo: Jacquelyn Martin, AP

Fire Station 5 is seen in Santa Rosa, Calif. via Google Maps Street View, May 2015.

Fire Station 5 is seen in Santa Rosa, Calif. via Google Maps Street View, May 2015.

Photo: Google Maps

Fire Station 5 lies in ruins after a firestorm swept over the neighborhood, on October 10, 2017 in Santa Rosa, Calif. in one of the worst wildfires in state history, at least 1,500 homes have burned.

Fire Station 5 lies in ruins after a firestorm swept over the neighborhood, on October 10, 2017 in Santa Rosa, Calif. in one of the worst wildfires in state history, at least 1,500 homes have burned.

The Estancia Apartment Homes on Old Redwood Hwy. were completely destroyed on Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa, Calif.

The Estancia Apartment Homes on Old Redwood Hwy. were completely destroyed on Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa, Calif.

Photo: Brian Van Der Brug/LA Times Via Getty Images

Schmidt Firearms store in Santa Rosa, Calif. is seen via Google Maps Street View, as of June 2016.

Schmidt Firearms store in Santa Rosa, Calif. is seen via Google Maps Street View, as of June 2016.

Photo: Google Maps

Schmidt Firearms store at 808 Piner Road near Bincentennial Way in Santa Rosa burns Monday morning after wildfires spread to the area. The store is part of a larger complex that includes a furniture store and warehouse. less

Schmidt Firearms store at 808 Piner Road near Bincentennial Way in Santa Rosa burns Monday morning after wildfires spread to the area. The store is part of a larger complex that includes a furniture store and … more

Satellite images show the Coffey Park neighborhood in Santa Rosa before a wildfire whipped through the region.

Satellite images show the Coffey Park neighborhood in Santa Rosa before a wildfire whipped through the region.

Keith Norris shows what his car destroyed in the fire looked like before the fire, in Santa Rosa, Ca., on Monday October 9, 2017. Massive wildfires ripped through Napa and Sonoma counties early Monday, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses. less

Keith Norris shows what his car destroyed in the fire looked like before the fire, in Santa Rosa, Ca., on Monday October 9, 2017. Massive wildfires ripped through Napa and Sonoma counties early Monday, … more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

A Google street view image shows Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa before the Wine Country fires damaged the property.

A Google street view image shows Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa before the Wine Country fires damaged the property.

Photo: Google / /

Cardinal Newman High School is seen after some of the school burned during the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Cardinal Newman High School is seen after some of the school burned during the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

A view of the Signorello Vineyard’s winery building in Napa, Calif.

A view of the Signorello Vineyard’s winery building in Napa, Calif.

Photo: Courtesy Signorello Estate

Flames consume a main building at the Signorello Vineyards in Napa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Flames consume a main building at the Signorello Vineyards in Napa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Noah Berger, Special To The Chronicle

The Signorello Estate winery burns in the Napa wine region in California on October 9, 2017, as multiple wind-driven fires continue to whip through the region. / AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSONJOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images less

The Signorello Estate winery burns in the Napa wine region in California on October 9, 2017, as multiple wind-driven fires continue to whip through the region. / AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSONJOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty … more

Photo: JOSH EDELSON, AFP/Getty Images

The entrance to the fire-ravaged Signorello Estate winery is seen Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Napa, Calif.

The entrance to the fire-ravaged Signorello Estate winery is seen Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Napa, Calif.

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP

The manor house of Stags’ Leap Winery is seen in Napa, Calif.

The manor house of Stags’ Leap Winery is seen in Napa, Calif.

Photo: Stags Leap Winery

Flames roar through a historic building at the Stags’ Leap Winery during a fast moving wind whipped wildfire raged through the Napa/Sonoma wine region.

Flames roar through a historic building at the Stags’ Leap Winery during a fast moving wind whipped wildfire raged through the Napa/Sonoma wine region.

Photo: Peter DaSilva, Special To The Chronicle

The Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel is seen in Santa Rosa, Calif. via Google Maps Street View, April 2015.

The Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel is seen in Santa Rosa, Calif. via Google Maps Street View, April 2015.

Photo: Google Maps

Flames work their way through the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif. and is one of several businesses in Wine Country that were affected by the devastating fires.

Flames work their way through the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif. and is one of several businesses in Wine Country that were affected by the devastating fires.

Photo: San Francisco Chronicle

Rudy Habibe, from Puerto Rico, and his service dog Maximus walk toward a burning building at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel, where he was a guest, in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through Northern California sending residents on a headlong flight to safety through smoke and flames as homes burned. less

Rudy Habibe, from Puerto Rico, and his service dog Maximus walk toward a burning building at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel, where he was a guest, in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Wildfires … more

Photo: Jeff Chiu, AP

The sun shines above behind a burning building at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through Northern California sending residents on a headlong flight to safety through smoke and flames as homes burned. less

The smoldering remains of Hilton Sonoma Wine Country are seen in Santa Rosa, Calif. Monday, October 9, 2017.

The smoldering remains of Hilton Sonoma Wine Country are seen in Santa Rosa, Calif. Monday, October 9, 2017.

Photo: Mason Trinca, Special To The Chronicle

One of the few walls still standing after the a fast moving wind whipped wildfire roared through the Hilton Hotel burning it to the ground, Santa Rosa, Calif. on Oct. 9, 2017.

One of the few walls still standing after the a fast moving wind whipped wildfire roared through the Hilton Hotel burning it to the ground, Santa Rosa, Calif. on Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Peter DaSilva, Special To The Chronicle

Smoldering fires are seen in the remains of the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.

Smoldering fires are seen in the remains of the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.

Photo: Elijah Nouvelage, Special To The Chronicle

A view of the entrance to Journey’s End mobile home park in Santa Rosa, Calif., as seen via Google Maps Street View, Jan. 2017.

A view of the entrance to Journey’s End mobile home park in Santa Rosa, Calif., as seen via Google Maps Street View, Jan. 2017.

Photo: Google Maps

The remnants of several mobile homes can be seen from the outside of Journey’s End mobile home park in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Monday.

The remnants of several mobile homes can be seen from the outside of Journey’s End mobile home park in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Monday.

Photo: San Francisco Chronicle

A fire tears through parts of the Journey’s End mobile home park on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

A fire tears through parts of the Journey’s End mobile home park on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

A laundromat inside the Journey’s End mobile home park burns during the Tubbs fire on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

A laundromat inside the Journey’s End mobile home park burns during the Tubbs fire on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

A view of Journey’s End mobile home after the Tubbs fire tore through the property on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

A view of Journey’s End mobile home after the Tubbs fire tore through the property on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

Homes are seen burnt to the ground after a fire tore through the Journey’s End mobile home park on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Homes are seen burnt to the ground after a fire tore through the Journey’s End mobile home park on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

Chairs and an umbrella are seen charred and melted beside the pool at Journey’s End mobile home after the Tubbs fire tore through the property on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Chairs and an umbrella are seen charred and melted beside the pool at Journey’s End mobile home after the Tubbs fire tore through the property on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

Wildfire burns home of ‘Peanuts’ creator Charles Schulz

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) — The home of “Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz burned to the ground in the deadly California wildfires but his widow escaped, her stepson said Thursday.

Jean Schulz, 78, evacuated before flames engulfed her hillside home Monday and is staying with a daughter, Monte Schulz said.

The Schulzes built the California split-level home in the 1970s and the cartoonist lived there until his death in 2000.

“It’s the house he died in. All of their memorabilia and everything is all gone,” Monte Schulz said.

He had not heard from his stepmother and learned about the disaster from his brother, Craig Schulz, who also lost his Santa Rosa home in the fire.

“The fire came by at, like, two in the morning,” Monte Schulz said. “Everything’s gone.”

Fires in the Northern California wine country have killed at least 26 people since they began Sunday.

Monte Schulz said he had not visited his stepmother’s home in recent years because he lives more than 300 miles away in Santa Barbara. He wasn’t sure what might have burned.

“Obviously stuff from my dad and their life together, all gone,” he said.

Schulz usually worked at an outside studio and most of his original artwork and memorabilia are at the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, which escaped the flames.

But the loss of the house itself is painful, Monte Schulz said.

“I had memories of being in that house. I never lived there but I visited all the time,” he said. “That time of our lives is now completely erased.”

Schulz had long ties to Santa Rosa and to Sonoma County. He and his first wife, Joyce, built a home in the city of Sebastopol in 1958. The airport in Santa Rosa Airport is officially titled the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport and features bronze sculptures of the Peanuts characters. Its logo is Snoopy flying on top of his doghouse.